Yankees Blank Red Sox 1-0 as Cam Schlittler Delivers Another Ace-Level Performance

NEW YORK — Schlittler owns the moment

When the Yankees needed their ace to look like an ace Friday night, Cam Schlittler delivered again. The Yankees opened their pivotal four-game rivalry series against Boston with a tense 1-0 victory at Yankee Stadium, riding Schlittler's latest dominant performance, a Paul Goldschmidt home run and two enormous defensive plays to protect the game's only run. New York improved to 76-58 and moved three games ahead of Boston for the American League's top Wild Card position. For a team chasing October, it was precisely the kind of game the Yankees may need to win when October arrives.

Schlittler reaches 200 strikeouts

Schlittler wasn't necessarily at his most efficient. He walked five hitters in 5 2/3 innings and repeatedly had to work around traffic. But Boston couldn't make him pay.

The right-hander held the Red Sox scoreless on only two hits, striking out eight and lowering his American League-leading ERA to 2.09. The performance improved Schlittler to 12-6 and pushed him past another significant milestone: 200 strikeouts for the season. His season line now stands at 201 strikeouts over 163 2/3 innings with a 0.97 WHIP. Schlittler recorded No. 200 by striking out Nick Sogard with a 95.3 mph cutter in the fifth inning. MLB notes that he became the fourth-youngest Yankee to reach 200 strikeouts in a season. And once again, he did it against Boston.

Including postseason play entering Friday, Schlittler had already compiled a 0.68 ERA with 31 strikeouts in four appearances against the Red Sox. The Massachusetts native added another chapter to that rapidly developing rivalry Friday night.

Goldschmidt provides all the offense New York needs

The Yankees' lineup didn't exactly erupt. It didn't have to.

Paul Goldschmidt launched his 17th home run of the season in the bottom of the third, driving Patrick Sandoval deep to left-center field and giving New York a 1-0 lead.

That was it. Sandoval was excellent himself, surrendering just one run and three hits across 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven. But Goldschmidt's swing became the difference between winning and losing because the Yankees made the run stand for the next six innings.

Bellinger's throw saves the game

The game's defining moment may not have involved Schlittler or Goldschmidt.

It came from Cody Bellinger. Boston threatened in the seventh inning when Ceddanne Rafaela attempted to score. Bellinger came up throwing from the outfield and cut Rafaela down at the plate, preserving the 1-0 advantage. It was one of two outfield double plays turned by New York on the night. In a one-run game, there was essentially no margin for defensive mistakes. The Yankees made the plays.

Boston didn't score.

Yankees bullpen finishes the job

Once Schlittler departed, the bullpen had to protect the smallest lead possible.

It did. Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn and David Bednar combined to finish the shutout, with Bednar closing the ninth for his 31st save of the season. Boston stranded 10 runners despite managing only two hits against Schlittler. That's a remarkable combination — and a testament to New York repeatedly escaping trouble.

REPORTING: Yankees gain ground in Wild Card race

The victory carries considerably more weight than an ordinary late-August win.

New York entered the night holding the American League's top Wild Card position with Boston chasing closely behind. The Yankees' win expanded their advantage over the Red Sox to three games. The Yankees remain second in the AL East behind Tampa Bay. And there's plenty more Yankees-Red Sox baseball coming immediately. Saturday features a day-night doubleheader, with Max Fried scheduled to return from the injured list and Carlos Rodón also slated to start one of the two games. Fried has been sidelined since August 14 with a bone bruise in his left elbow.

SURGE SPORTS ANALYSIS: Schlittler is becoming the Yankees' October weapon

There is a larger story developing here. Cam Schlittler isn't merely having an excellent season anymore. He's becoming the pitcher the Yankees could potentially hand the baseball to in Game 1 of a postseason series.

Consider where he stands after Friday:

12-6.2.09 ERA.201 strikeouts.0.97 WHIP.

And he's doing it while pitching meaningful baseball in New York at age 25.

Friday wasn't his prettiest performance. Five walks are five walks. That's almost what makes the outing more impressive. Great pitchers dominate when everything works. Aces sometimes win when everything doesn't. Schlittler battled his command, allowed runners to reach base, faced a dangerous Boston lineup in a game with major playoff implications — and never surrendered a run. That's an October trait. The Yankees' offense remains a concern. Scoring one run isn't a sustainable formula, particularly while Aaron Judge remains unavailable. But elite starting pitching changes postseason mathematics. And if Schlittler keeps pitching like this, New York may possess something every playoff contender desperately wants:

A starter capable of winning a game almost by himself.

FINAL: YANKEES 1, RED SOX 0

WP: Cam Schlittler (12-6)Save: David Bednar (31)Yankees record: 76-58Schlittler: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 8 KGoldschmidt: HR No. 17Season milestone: Schlittler reaches 200 strikeouts